The cast-on stitch is a dimensional embroidery stitch. It sits up off the fabric, creating a textures stitch that works well for flower petals and for anywhere that you want clusters of texture on your embroidery.
Cast-on stitch is widely used in Brazilian Embroidery, which is a very textured embroidery that focuses on floral designs. But no matter what type of embroidery you like to do, the cast-on stitch works brilliantly for adding dimension and texture. It’s definitely worth learning!
In the video, I’m working with a #8 perle cotton, using a milliner needle. Using a milliner needle is really important when working these stitches that require the needle to pass through many wraps (like the bullion knot). The eye and the shaft of the milliner needle are the same size, which makes it much easier for the eye to pass through the wraps.
Here’s the video! I hope you find it useful!
You can find a Stitch Play Printable with step-by-step photo instructions for cast-on stitch and double cast-on stitch, along with instructions to create four beautiful dimensional flowers, available in my shop, if you’re interested in taking this stitch a little farther!
You can find a wide variety of embroidery how-to videos here on Needle ‘n Thread, if you’re looking for other stitches to try out. Feel free to peruse them all!
Hi Mary,
What size Milliner needle did you use?
Thanks,
Cynthia
Hi, Cynthia – I think that’s a size 5. But you know… I’m not quite sure. This is what comes of grabbing a needle out of a pincushion and not paying attention… But I’m somewhat sure it’s a 5 – about 80% sure! ~MC
Well, the technique is easy enough, especially if a person has done any knitting in their lifetime. It is just like casting on when starting a knitting project. But the example you gave lies flat and seems very thin. The petals are curved (I think I have that figured out) but the cast on stitches seem longer/thicker from top to bottom, like the difference between a single crochet and a treble crochet (now I’m really mixing things up). How did you make the petals look thicker?
I understand how this really interesting stitch works, but I don’t understand how you get from there to the petals of the flower.
Hi Mary,
Thank you so much for your lovely videos. I cannot tell you how helpful you have been to me. I understand the cast on stitch but I don’t know how you made the flower. Do you think you could post directions for it? Thanks so much. Chris Beresford
Regardeing millner’s needle size — Ahem!!! Where’s that Needle ID card????!!!
PS – This is one of my favorite “texture” stitches!
Hi Mary. Thank you for the videos, they’re so helpful. I do have a question though, how do you get the petals made on the flower? The stitch looks easy enough, but could you demonstrate how you go from the stitch to the flower? Thanks!!
Hi, Cyndy and everyone – tomorrow’s post will clarify how to build a flower with cast on stitches. I wanted to get the video for the stitch up beforehand. Look for it tomorrow!
-MC
Mary. I love your videos. A real help for Thoes who are “how to iliterate “. Watching you demonstrate a stitch is so much better than book pictures and instructions. I sure would like instructions for the flower you made with the cast on stitch. Thanks for making stitches easy for me.
Donna
From a stumpy (stumpwork) perspective, I think of the various applications of cup stitch and think … oooo – could make variations of motifs using cast-on stitch instead. Thanks!
I just recently learned how to do this stitch for a Brazilian embroidery project. What a great use of this stitch! I’ m looking forward to seeing how you make the flower.
Hello Mary!
Thank you for this one. Awhile back I bought a bunch of Brazillion Embroidery stuff plus some extra long needles. One I believe is five inches long! Haven’t pulled it out yet since I have a few older projects in line before I pick up the Brazillion embroidery projects. Thank you, and I look forward to watching you create the flower for us using this stitch!
Sincerely,
Mindi Hammerstone
Dear Mary
Great post and video the stitch is very similar to the bullion stitch. Can’t wait for today’s article on the how to complete a petal using the cast on stitch.
Thanks Mary for your time and efforts that you put into these videos.
Regards Anita Simmance
thanks for the video. i had been doing this stitch with 2 needles…never thinking about using my finger. this is much easier. i love it.
Thank you Mary!
This is fantastic I can not keep using your wonderful well thought out resource without shouting my gratitude Stitching can be an isolating pursuit but with your website and newsletters I never feel alone. Thank you
Brazilian Embroidery Where I can ge this catalog and learn the basic. I really love it even the dimension embroidery.
Please replay to me if you have any store I can go in Baton Rouge.
Thanks.
B. Chavis
Thanks i am very happy to find your website merci
Hi Mary, I love the Cast-on stitch. But HOW do you keep it from twisting up on you? After about 3 Cast on stitches my thread starts twisting. Should I just use a smaller thread or stop when the twisting starts?
Hi, Kristie – usually the problem is that your thread is over twisting. Try making the stitch so that the needle is pointing the opposite direction, and use your other hand to make the wraps. This might help you. Another option: if you’re not putting enough wraps on the needle, the stitch might not be full enough to allow you to manipulate it into a position where it will hold. Keep in mind you can manipulate the stitch after yo pull the needle through, too…
nice
Hi,All your videos give a clear picture of every stitch.can u pls teach me how to do a detached bullion stitch.i am a beginner for Brazilian embroidery.
Ashra